(May 12, 2012, Beijing) For audiences of endurance running in China, "Kami" may be an unfamiliar name, but today, after the conclusion of the women's 100-kilometer event at the 2012 Beijing International Trail Challenge, "Kami" will no longer be a stranger. As a "rookie" competing in this event for the first time, she defeated defending champion Liu Junyan from last year’s race and Xing Ruling, known among Chinese runners as "Sister Xing," to claim the championship. The latter two finished second and third, respectively.
Endurance running Dakar attracts international elites
In 2008, The North Face® officially launched the The North Face 100® endurance race series in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2009, the event was held in Changping District, Beijing, marking its first appearance in China. Last year, the race was renamed “The North Face 100® Beijing International Outdoor Endurance Running Challenge.” In 2011, the difficulty of the race increased significantly compared to the previous two editions, which elevated The North Face 100® to the status of the “Dakar” of domestic running events. This year’s race has been renamed The North Face 100® Beijing International Trail Challenge, with the theme “Run the Wildest Path of Your Life,” promoting its long-standing spirit of “exploration never stops,” and striving to make The North Face 100® the highest-level endurance running event in China.
The participation of champions from Canadian, Thai, Taiwanese, and Singaporean editions of The North Face 100®, along with homegrown talents such as Yu Yanqiao, Yang Jiagen, and Xing Ruling, helped elevate the event to one of the highest-level races in the Asia-Pacific region. However, public knowledge about Kami remains limited. Whether she would emerge as a dark horse or deliver a modest performance added an air of mystery and anticipation to the race from the start.
Champion Who Came from the Sidelines
In fact, Kami didn’t begin her career in endurance running. Initially, she practiced triathlon and mountaineering, but such pursuits meant she had to be away from her child and husband. After missing her daughter’s second birthday while climbing Denali, she began seeking other challenging yet family-friendly adventures. That led her to ultra-running. She told reporters, “Ultra-running allows me to keep my family close. I can go on adventures during the day and come back to spend time with my husband and daughter.”
Though still new to the sport, Kami has already made a name for herself. She ranked fourth in the “2005 Best Female Ultra-Runner” list by UltraRunning Magazine. Moreover, she has repeatedly claimed victories and broken world records in globally renowned endurance running events.
After winning this year’s championship, Kami received enthusiastic support and encouragement from the Chinese audience. After the race, she expressed her gratitude for the friendliness of Chinese spectators and their support for endurance running, hoping to have the opportunity to compete again in the future and improve the standards of the women’s 100-kilometer race together with China’s top endurance runners.